As the world races to overcome environment pollution, many countries including Malaysia are pledging to adopt more sustainable practices. The Malaysian government is dedicated to achieving a low-carbon future by implementing various policies and initiatives to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). For example, the government is working on developing the country’s EV ecosystem with a target of 10,000 EV charging bays by 2025.
In addition, EV owners are not required to pay road tax until 31 December 2025 after which they will enjoy a lower tax rate based on the power output of their vehicle. The government is also providing EV owners with up to RM2,500 income tax relief for installation, rental and purchase of charging equipment as well as recharging subscriptions.
Of the EV brands in Malaysia, BYD is the most popular with a total sales volume of 8,570 vehicles as of 31 January 2025.
Prices Of BYD Vehicles In Malaysia
BYD marked its entry to the Malaysian market in 2022, partnering with established local automotive player Sime Darby Motors. There are 19 authorised BYD dealerships across the country.
The first BYD vehicle to be sold in Malaysia is the BYD Atto 3 which recorded over 1,000 orders within the first 10 days of its launch.
Since then, BYD has launched four more models in Malaysia, which are the BYD Dolphin, BYD Seal, BYD M6 and BYD Sealion 7.
BYD Dolphin – From RM100,000
The base model, BYD Dolphin is a hatchback that is suitable for those who want a compact car to drive around in the city. It is the most affordable BYD model, priced from RM100,000.
BYD Dolphin has a driving range of up to 490km, according to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standard. The vehicle utilises BYD’s Blade Battery technology with a high starting temperature for exothermic reactions, slow heat release and low heat generation for safe usage.
| Dolphin Extended | Dolphin Standard | |
| Driving range (km) | 490 | 410 |
| Battery capacity (kWh) | 60.48 | 44.9 |
| Acceleration (s) | 7.0 | 12.3 |
| Price | From RM100,000 | |
BYD M6 – From RM109,800
The BYD M6 is the most spacious car model from the brand. It is a seven- seater with an overall length of 4,710mm, height of 1,810mm and luggage capacity of up to 580l – suitable for family road trips over the weekend.
| M6 Extended | M6 Standard | |
| Driving range (km) | 530 | 420 |
| Battery capacity (kWh) | 71.8 | 55.4 |
| Acceleration (s) | 8.6 | 10.1 |
| Price | From RM109,800 | |
BYD Atto 3 – From RM149,800
The first BYD model that hit the shores of Malaysia, BYD Atto 3 is a midsized sports utility vehicle priced from RM149,800.
BYD Atto 3 remains to be the most popular model from the car brand, with a stylish sporty design favoured by many Malaysians.
| Atto 3 | |
| Driving range (km) | 480 |
| Battery capacity (kWh) | 60.48 |
| Acceleration (s) | 7.3 |
| Price | From RM149,800 |
BYD Seal – From RM163,800
BYD Seal is also a popular sedan model from the car brand with a starting price of RM163,800.
BYD Seal has a driving range of up to 650km and is equipped with the in-house developed CB technology, incorporating BYD’s Blade Battery into the car’s body for a robust “sandwich” construction capable of achieving impressive torsional rigidity.
| Seal Performance | Seal Premium | Seal Dynamic | |
| Driving range (km) | 580 | 650 | 510 |
| Battery capacity (kWh) | 82.56 | 82.56 | 61.44 |
| Acceleration (s) | 3.8 | 5.9 | 7.5 |
| Price | From RM163,800 | ||
BYD Sealion 7 – From RM183,800
The latest model launched in Malaysia, BYD Sealion 7 is the brand’s premium sports utility vehicle with sleek, flowing lines and an aerodynamic design.
The BYD Sealion 7 is outfitted with premium quilted Nappa leather seats for extra comfort and vegan leather.
| Sealion 7 Premium | Sealion 7 Performance | |
| Driving range (km) | 567 | 542 |
| Battery capacity (kWh) | 82.5 | |
| Acceleration (s) | 6.7 | 4.5 |
| Price | From RM183,800 | |
Additional Costs
Aside from the initial cost of purchasing an electric vehicle, you may also want to consider peripheral costs of owning a BYD vehicle.
For starters, a recurring cost would be recharging the vehicle. Drivers can charge their EVs for a fee at various locations including high-rise residential buildings, hotels and shopping malls. Depending on the type of charger, an electric vehicle may take around 30 minutes to a few hours to charge fully.
There are two types of charging devices, which are the direct current charging (DC) and alternative current charging devices.
Direct charging is usually found at commercial charging stations that are suitable for a quick charge. For example, the Shell Recharge stations charge RM2.20 for every kWh, with up to 15 minutes idling. Drivers will be charged RM8 for every 15 minutes of idling onwards. There is also a confirmation fee of RM5.00.
Proton New Energy Technology (PRONET) and EV Connection, operator of EV charging network JomCharge will also be installing EV chargers at 100 condominiums with affordable charging rates RM0.70 per kWh.
Alternative current charging device is more commonly used at private homes and requires more time to charge your vehicle given that the power needs to be converted. If you’re staying at landed homes, you can install a charging device within your property. According to EV Connection’s site, a Abb Terra 22kW AC EV charger costs RM5,299.
As for maintenance, EVs have lesser mechanical components and require less frequent servicing compared to petrol vehicles. BYD offers several service and maintenance packages to customers at their service centres. The servicing costs vary depending on the car model and type of package. For example, the servicing fee for a BYD Atto 3 or Dolphin after three years or 60,000km is RM1,688.
But, if you’re thinking long term, there’s also a possible need for battery replacement after a 10-year period when the battery health may start to decline. Battery replacement costs vary depending on the model, costing around RM20,000 according to a news report.
Read Also: 5 Cheapest Cars In Malaysia That You Can Buy In 2024
Follow Us On Telegram & Instagram!
Join our Malaysia Telegram channel (@dollarsandsensemy) and follow our Malaysia Instagram Page (@dnsmalaysia) as we bring you the latest finance content in Malaysia!
